Rooftop solar now in 27% of detached homes in S.E. Queensland

Rooftop solar systems are now installed in 27 per cent of detached homes in south-east Queensland, according to the latest data released by the local network operator, Energex.

The data shows that south-east Queensland now has 281,811 rooftop solar systems, totalling more than 937MW. At the current rate of installation, the 1GW market will be met within four or five months.

However, as the graph below shows, more than one third of the residential rooftop solar installations – or 304MW – receive a reduced tariff – now 6.4c/kWh – for exports, rather than the 44c/kWh.

Most of these are new systems, ordered and installed since the 44c/kWh tariffs was ended. However, another 889 systems fell off the 44c feed in tariff, meaning that the number receiving that tariff has fallen by nearly 14,000, or nearly 7%, in the last 15 months.

The installation rate puts it at a par with South Australia, where rooftop arrays are installed in more than 23 per cent of customers.

In February, 2,164 new solar systems were connected to the network, and another 2,604 applications were received. Energex says this is below the long term average.

Another 889 systems fell off the 44c feed in tariff, meaning that the number receiving that tariff has fallen by nearly 14,000, or nearly 7%, in the last 15 months. The average feed-in tariff paid per day to a customer with Solar PV is $2.08.

Giles Parkinson is founder and editor of Renew Economy, and is also the founder of One Step Off The Grid and founder/editor of The Driven. Giles has been a journalist for 35 years and is a former business and deputy editor of the Australian Financial Review.

Giles Parkinson is founder and editor of Renew Economy, and is also the founder of One Step Off The Grid and founder/editor of The Driven. Giles has been a journalist for 35 years and is a former business and deputy editor of the Australian Financial Review.